Editor's note: IBEW Local 275 Business Manager Sean Egan, who is also president of the Kent-Ionia Labor Council, wrote this piece for the council in late December. It is updated to reflect that in early January, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bill eliminating straight-ticket voting, then signed legislation that stops public entities from using funds to support their own millages within 60 days of the election, while opening up rules to allow more wealthy donors access to the political process. ..

Contractors expect a range of public and private markets to grow, and 71 percent of U.S. construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2016, according to survey results released Jan. 6 by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. ..